Dried Pepper

Cameroon Pepper

A very hot dried pepper seasoning valued for its concentrated, often smoky character.

Research in progress
A pile of dried red chilli peppers
Dried red chilli, illustrative of the dried form / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 4.0

Ingredient record

Names & identity

Names can vary by language, market and region. Only reviewed names are displayed here.

Nigerian/common nameCameroon Pepper

What is Cameroon Pepper?

Cameroon pepper is a trade and kitchen name for a very hot dried pepper seasoning used in West and Central African cooking. It is not consistently tied to one cultivar or botanical variety.

Flavour & identification

What does it taste like?

Hot, concentrated and often smoky

What does it look like?

It is sold as dark red or brown powder and sometimes as whole dried peppers. Colour alone cannot confirm identity.

Using Cameroon Pepper in Nigerian cooking

How is it used?

Add in small pinches to soups, stews, sauces and marinades.

Which dishes use it?

Pepper soup
Stews
Sauces
Spice rubs

How do you prepare it?

Use the powder carefully and avoid inhaling airborne chilli dust.

How much should you use?

Begin with a pinch, allow it to disperse, then taste before adding more.

Buying, storing & substituting

Possible substitutes

A hot dried chilli can provide heat, but the smoky character may differ.

Supporting research

Ingredient research

Limited human evidence

Dried hot peppers contain capsaicinoids, but Cameroon pepper is not one standardised cultivar or dose. Human reviews of chilli and capsaicin research find uncertain or low-confidence cardiometabolic effects, so normal culinary use should not be described as preventing or treating disease.

  1. Research source 1 ↗
  2. Research source 2 ↗
Not medical advice. Traditional use is not the same as clinical evidence. This ingredient is not presented as a treatment, cure or way to prevent disease.
How we assess ingredient research →

Sources & further reading

This entry remains in research. No unsupported source is displayed.

Cook with it

Recipes using Cameroon Pepper

RecipeNigerian Pepper SoupRecipeBeef SuyaRecipeBanga Soup

Understand the ingredient

Guides featuring Cameroon Pepper

GuideNigerian Pepper Names in English: Tatashe, Shombo, Ata Rodo and Cameroon PepperGuideBanga Soup Spices: Names, Roles and Regional VariationsGuideWhat gives Nigerian pepper soup its distinctive flavour?

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